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(No Model.) W 2 Sheets-S11eet 1.

J. STEPHENSON UAR AXLE BOX.

No. 296.479. 7 Patented Apr. 8.51884.

N. PETERS. Phnlo-hlhagnphan Wnhinglen. ELC.

2 sheets sheep 2.

(No Model.) I

J. STEPHENSON.

' v UAR AXLE BOX. I I N0. 296,479. Patented Apr. 8, 1884.

H. PETERS. FholoLilIwgnpYm Wuhingmn. a c.

UNITED STATES PATENT @rrren.

JOHX STEPHENSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

CAR-AXLE BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 296,479, dated April 8, 1884.

Application filed April 18,1883. (No model.)

To 0022 whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, John Srnrnnnsox, of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Boxes for Cars, of which the following is the specification.

This invention relates to axle-boxes specially adapted for cars for streetrailways; and it consists of certain improvements, fully described hereinafter,-and illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1 is a longitudinal section of a caraxle box and adjuncts, showing my improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan. Fig. 3 is a transvere section through the box, axle, and pedestal. Fig. is a perspective view of the oiling-pad, and Fig. 5 is a transverse section of said pad.

The necessity of lightness in the construe-- tion of tram-cars has rendered it requisite to employ axles of such small diameter that they cannot be reduced in order to form the journals, thereby dispensing with the shoulders,

' always proved satisfactory, and some of which are not applicable to cars in which springs in tervene between the car-body and the pedestal. For these reasons I employ an axle having an annular groove, a, near. the end, to receive aforlred yokeor check-plate, B, fitting in grooves :r; in the sides of the axle-box A, detachable vertically from the axle, and securing the same in the box without possibility of longitudinal motion. The use of the grooved axle and key has necessitated modifications of the axle-box and appurtenances, which constitute the subject of this invention. As the axle is extended beyond the usual length to receive the groove, I bulge the front wall of the box outward, as shown in Fig. 2, so that when a curved cap or lid, C, is applied thereto, the projecting end will be inclosed within the box without projecting the sides of the latter forward. The side limbs of the check plate extend downward below the axle to the bottom of the grooves as in the oi1-well, so that the bolt.

the play of the check-plate back and forth between the sides of the groove will result in Spurting upward the oil, which, striking the curved or inclined inner face of the cap 0, will be deflected into the basin at the top of the bearing-block D, from whence it flows through oil-holes to into the journal and back to'the well. The cap fits tightly the edges of the box, and a flange, o, overlaps the lower edge of the opening in the box, so that the oil which flows downward on the inside face of the cap will be directed back into the well and not pass between the cap and box to the outside. Atthe upper end of the cap is a curved lip, 12, which,-when extended through a slot, to, in the top of the box, serves to retain the cap in its place, and prevent it from being detached unless turnedin the position shown in dotted lines, Fig. 1, and the curve of the cap is somewhat less than the front of the box, so that the cap must be sprung slightly to bring it to its place, where it is secured by the bolt E, thereby preventing rattling, securing a tight joint, and preventing the loosening of A lip, e, extends from the cap beneath the opening a, thereby preventing the oil from escaping through the latter. An in let opening receives the oil, which passes to the basing and then to the well. Bearings have tended to overshoot the ends of their journals when held by a stop beyond the end of the axle; but this I now prevent by the key check-plate lodged in a. groove of the axle.

In order that the axle-journal may change its angle with the box and yet have the block D maintain its bearings in every direction, I make such bearings or contacting surfaces central with the top and sides of the box. Thus the upper side of the block D has a rounded or curved boss,f, which rocks against the flat under side of the top of the box, and

venes a portion of the felt.

boxes, and have proved valuable in excluding the dust to a greater or less extent ,but the arrangements heretofore adopted have not been such as to secure such exclusion to the extent required. Ordinarily the longitudinal movement of the axle independently of the bearingblock causes the journal to act as a plunger, exhausting and refilling the box with dirt and grinding away the bearing. This is prevented by combining the keyed check-plate with the axle, so as to prevent one moving longitudinally independently of the other, and by using a movable dust-collar fitting tightly but play- ]iOng freely in a chamber, 1), at the rear of the The collar consists of a ring, F, equal in width to the chamber 1), inclosing another ring, G, of felt or other suitable material, which is thus held close to the axle, while accompanying it in its movements.

To secure a better oiling by capillary attraction from beneath the axle, I make use of a fabric-conductor, T; but in place of the ordinary construction I employ that illustrated in the drawings, specially in Fig. 4.

I use two flaring jaws, HH, of sheet metal, constructed with vertical portions, so as to clamp between them a body of felt or other material extending the length of the journal, and with diverging upper portions corresponding somewhat with the curve of the journal, between which and the jaws inter- The felt may be in two pieces, h h, clamped at the lower edges between the vertical parts of the jaws H H, and spread apart to receive the journal at their upper edges, as shown; or the vertical portion of the felt may terminate at the point where the jaws begin to spread, and a separate curved piece may be applied between the upper portions of the jaws, as shown in Fig. 5.

To prevent the rapid wearing away of the felt-pad, which has heretofore been quickly destroyed when applied to new axles with the journals rough as left by the turning-tool, I insert in the pad a block or blocks of hard substance, which will bear against the journal and prevent undue wear. Such blocks may be in the form of screws 8 screwed into the pad. A spring, 25, may be secured to the pad and its holder, which is thus raised to maintain contact with the journal. The end q of the pad is constructed so as to extend between the limbs of the key-plate, and thus lubricate the head and neck of the axle as well as the journal.

I therefore claim l. The combination, in a car-axle box, of a grooved axle, a forked key fitted to said axle, and grooves in the box receiving the limbs of said key and extending into the oil-well,whereby the play of the key is made the medium of elevating the oil from the well to a point above the axle, substantially as set forth.

provided with an oil-basin, y, and a key checkplate having limbs extending into the well,

and fitted to its grooves, to elevate the oil into the basin, substantially as set forth.

3. A car-axle box provided with a key-plate fitting a groove in the axle and in grooves in the box, and with a bearing in contact with the flat top of the box, and confined between the rear wall and the key-plate, substantially as set forth.

4. A car-axle box in which the journal is locked longitudinally by a key-plate, and provided with a dust-chamber containing a surrounding dust-collar in contact with the axle, the collar being free to gyrate within its chamber,or controlled by the axle, substantially as set forth.

5. A car-axle oiling-pad independent of the box-shell, and having in combination vertical plates bent outward at their upper edges and shaped to conform to the journal, with felt between the plates held firm in position for journal-contact by the outward spread-plates, and provided with a supporting-spring, substantially as set forth.

6. The combination of a car-axle box and axlej ournal, oiledby a pad of felt resting on the spread-wings of two vertical plates clasp-- ing the felt, and holding it up to the journal by a supporting-spring resting on the floor of r the box, substantially as set forth.

7. An oiling pad arrangedbeneath the grooved axle, and provided with an extension projecting beneath the neck of the axle, substantially as set forth.

8. A car-axle-box oiling-pad of felt or analogous material provided with blocks or pieces specified.

\ 10. A car-journal oiling-pad having felt or similar'fabric between two vertical plates, the upper portion of the plates and felt diverging in lines conforming to the curve of the journal, the parts of the felt for journal-contact having metal or other hard substance inserted,

and upheld by the curved metal plates, as and for the purposes specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed'my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

J OHN STEPHENSON.

WVitnesses:

CHARLES E. FosTER, J OHN A. LACKABERRY. 

